Coupler



De@ R0, '1935. w. F. RICHARDS COUPLER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1929 iNVENTOR ATTORNEY w, w35. w. F. RICHARDSv 2,923,55@

COUPLER Filed Nov. 29, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 i?.

NVENTOR L 2 l fr; wfg.' y 1./ o

` 1 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNiTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE COUPLER Application November 29, 1929, Serial No. 410,567

15 Claims.

This invention relates to couplers and, more particularly to couplers of the type described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 348,320, filed March 19, 1929, of which the present application is a continuation in part, in which provision is made for causing the lock to assume a lock-set position.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide a coupler comprising a vertically movable lock actuatedA from below and to which is pivoted a knuckle opener, a depending portion of said opener being adapted to engage the tail of the associated knuckle to open the same upon vertical movement of the lock, a portion of the head adjacent to said lock being formed with a lock-set ledge adapted to engage a lower corner o'f said lock to hold it in lock-set position.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupler formed with a locking block movable vertically in the head thereof and adapted to engage a lock-set ledge on a side wall of said head, a lock lifter extending through a bottom wall of said head and interlocked with said block, said block and lifter being disengaged only upon angling therebetween an abnormal amount, said block having an associated knuckle opener pivotally mounted thereon, said opener being actuated upon vertical movement of the lock until engagement is eiected between said opener and the top wall of the head.

A further object of my invention is to pro'vide an automatic coupler with a vertically movable lock operated from below by means of a lock lifter extending through an aperture in the lower wall of the head, said lifter being actuated by a bent lever pivotally connected to said head and formed with an arm extending along a side wall thereof when the lifter is in its lowest position, said lifter, when raised, causing a lower corner of said lock to engage a lock-set ledge provided on a wall of the lock cavity in said head.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an automatic coupler with a vertically movable lock to which is pivoted an angular knuckle opener, the upper portion of said opener preferably having a curved lug or cam portion which engages a corresponding portion on the upper wall of the head upon vertical movement of the lock to cause said opener to pivot thereabout and force the associated knuckle to open position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apa parent as the description proceedsZ Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional View of one embodiment of my invention, the coupler l5 head being shown in section on the line I--I, of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and the lock, knuckle opener and lock lifter being shown in elevation with the lock in lock-set position.

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the lock in knuckle locking position.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the head, the associated lock and lock lifter being shown in elevation with a portion of the 15 lock broken away to illustrate the connection of the lock lifter thereto.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. 20

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the lock or locking block.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of said lock or locking block.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of the operating 25 lever.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, there is shown, as one embodiment o'f my invention, an automatic coupler I comprising'a head 2 and a knuckle 3. As is customary, a portion of the knuckle is apertured and ts between lugs i on the head formed with apertures registering with the knuckle aperture and receiving a connecting pivot pin 5. Said pin may be held in position in any desired manner, but in the present instance is shown headless with its lower end apertured to correspond with a depending boss 6 through apertures in which extends a locking cotter 1. 4

Trouble has been experienced in the past with two piece locks in which the lifter was loosely connected to the upper part of the lock, as it was found that after the coupler had been in service for a considerable period of time, the lifter would sometimes become disengaged from the lock, either preventing it from falling into place when the knuckle was closed, or making it impossible to lift the lock in case the parts became disconnected when the lock was in its downward position. To remedy this, I have provided a one-piece or integral lock or locking block 8 vertically movable in a chamber or pocket 9 in the head 2. In order to adapt the coupler for freight service, I have provided a lock-set ledge 55 is adapted to rest when the lock is raised to lockset position, as shown in Figure. 1. In order to avoid interference with movement of the lock to lock-set position; the wall II above the lock-set ledge I0 is preferably cut out, as indicated at I3, and relieved or beveled thereabovealong aV diagonal line, as indicated at I 3.

In the present embodiment I have provided means for positively connecting the lock 8 andv lock lifter I4 involving no extra parts by making said lock and lifter adapted to be readily engaged and disengaged as desired, at .the same time avoiding unintentional disengagement; vTo accomplish'this purpose, I provide the lifter I 4 with a head I5 at the upper end offset from the axis of the lifter Vand curved on one side, as indicated at I6, and on its top about an axis longitudinal with respect to the coupler to provide for movement of the lock VI3 thereabout to and from lock-set position. The lock is provided with a corresponding pocket'I'! formed withone side wall I 8 curved to correspond with curved side wall I 6, and the other side wall I9 preferably straight to correspond with 'the straight side of the head I5. VA slight clearance 20 between the lifter .head and the wall I8 of the pocket I'I is provided, so that the lifter can be moved counterclockwise with respect tothe lock or the lock moved clockwise with respect to the lifter, as

viewed inY Fig. 3, until they are disengaged, as f will be understood'. It will be seen that there is no possible chance of disengagement between the lock and lifterY upon mere vertical movement, without abnormal angling movement, such as is not possible with the parts in normal position in the head.

The aperture 2I in the lower wall 22 of theV head is preferably formed of such asize that it 'will not permit the passage of the head I5 on the lifter I4, thereby preventing loss of the lifter from the head 2. The method of assembly of the lifter with respect to the head2 of thev coupleris to insert said lifter into the lock receiving opening 23 in the head and move it upwardly into the chamber 9 until the lower end thereof is over the aperture 2I in the wall 22 of the head, when said lifter may be dropped downwardly into'the opening 2I until the head I5 thereof Y rests on the edge of the lower wall 22 of the head. The lock 8 may then be inserted and connected with the head of the lock lifter in a manner as previously described. n Y

The coupler is desirably provided with a knuckle opener 24 which is received in a notch 25 in the lock l8, whereby it is inset so as not to project .forwardly of the front face of said'lock, and

pivotally connected to said lock, preferablyby having an integral longitudinal extension or arm 26, desirably circulark in section as illustrated,

received in a corresponding aperture 2'I in the lock and prevented from disengagement therefrom in any desired manner as by upsetting or riveting over the end of the extension 26 in a counter-sunk portion 2B in the lock` 8. The knuckle opener 24, in addition to the pivotal extension 26, has a downward extension 29 which Vpreferably tapers slightly downwardly. The normally horizontal portion 38 is preferably formed with an upwardly extending curved boss or cam portion 3| which is normally disposed directly below ya downwardly curved or depending boss `or cam portion 32. onY the upperwallc33 ofthe head 2, so that upon upward movement vof the cotter or the like 39.

lock 8, engagement is eventually effected between the bosses -or cam portions 3| and 32 providing a fulcrum about which the knuckle opener 24 is moved to eiect the desired motion of the knuckle by the lower portion 29 thereof engaging the tail 34 of the knuckle, as shown most clearly in Figure 1.

The head 2 of the coupler is preferably provided with a pair oi depending pivot lugs 35, between which the hub or enlarged portion 36 of the bent lifter lever 31 is pivotally mounted as by means of a pivot pin 38 looked in place by a Y The upper portion or extension 48 of the lever 31, when the lock is in its lowermost position, normally lies alongside of the knuckle side wall 4I of the head 2 and is adapted to be pulled sideways in any desired manner (not shown) for raising the lock lifter andV connected lock, it being understood that it is connected to the lower end of the lifter in any desired manner as by having an integral pivot extension 42 received in a corresponding the lock which is of one-piece construction uno provided with lock-setting legs, but adapted to lock-set on a side wall of the lock cavity by a lower corner thereof engaging a lock-set ledge in said wall. I have devised an improved construction whereby the vertically movable lock is connected to the upper end of the lock lifter without the use of auxiliary parts, while at the same time a secure connection is provided and the lifter so receivedin the head that loss thereof is obviated. An actuating lever, preferably pivoted below a side wall of the head and operated from the side, serves toraise the lock lifter and connected lock through `a pivotal connection with the `lower end of the former. Upon raising the lock, the pivotally connected knuckle opener is correspondingly raised until engagement is effected between it and an upper wall portion of the head providing a fulcrum about which said kopener is swung to move the knuckle to open position. Y

Although I have disclosed a preferred form of my invention, it is to vbe understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details as modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of zmy invention as dened by the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim: Vlfncombination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a unitary lock normally engaging a portion of Asaid knuckle to hold it in closed position and provided with a pocket in the lower portion thereof, and alock lifter extending through an .aperture in the lower wall of said head and flower portion thereof, a vlock lifter passing through an aperture in the bottom wall of said head and pivoted to said lock in said pocket to allow relative lateral angling, said lifter being adapted for engagement and disengagement with respect to said lock when said parts are disposed in an abnormal angular relationship, a side wall of the lock cavity in said head being formed with a ledge adapted to `engage a corner of said lock and hold it in lock-set position, and an actuating lever pivoted to said head with one end connected to the lock lifter and the other adapted for operation from the side of said head.

3. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivoted thereto and having a tail received in said head, a vertically movable lock normally tting between said tail and a wall of the head for locking said knuckle, said wall being formed with a lock-set ledge, means extending through an aperture in the lower wall of said head for moving said lock so that a lower corner thereof engages said lock-set ledge, and a knuckle opener with an end portion inset in the lock so `as not to project beyond the front face of said lock and formed with an integral arm, circular in section, extending into a corresponding aperture in and pivoted to said lock, and formed with a portion normally extending beside said tail and adapted to push it out of said head to open the knuckle when the lock is raised.

4. In combination, a coupler head with a mechanism pocket having a bottom wall, a knuckle pivoted thereto, a one-piece locking block, a lock lifter extending through an aperture in said wall and releasably pivotally connected to the lower portion of said block about an axis extending longitudinally of the head, and movable to release position by swinging, with respect to said block, about an axis extending transversely to said head, an actuating lever pivoted to said head and connected to the lower end of said lifter, a normally vertical side wall of said head lying adjacent to said block having a ledge with the portion above said ledge beveled to receive a corner portion of said block, whereby when the lock lifter raises said locking block, said block swings laterally and a corner thereof engages said ledge to hold said block in lock-set position.

5. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle having a tail received in said head, a vertically movable unitary lock normally tting between said tail and a side wall of the head for locking said knuckle, a knuckle opener pivoted to the lock about an axis normally disposed longitudinally with respect to the head and operable to open the knuckle upon upward movement of said lock, said side wall being provided with a lock-set ledge, and means extending through an aperture in the lower wall of said head for raising said lock, said means having a head and said lock being formed with a corresponding pocket in the lower portion thereof so that it receives and interlocks with said head, the upper surface of said head being curved about an axis, normally longitudinal with respect to the coupler head, to` permit transverse swinging of said lock to lock-set position when raised a predetermined amount, and a side surface of said head being curved about an axis, normally transverse with respect to said coupler head, to enable said raising means to be swung longitudinally of said coupler head for disengagement from said lock.

6. In combination, a coupler head, a swinging knuckle, a lock for Vsaid knuckle, a knuckle opener with an upper end portion disposed generally parallel to and rearward of the front face of said lock, formed with an integral arm, circular in section, extending into a corresponding aperture in the lock for pivoting said opener about an axis disposed longitudinally with respect to the head and operable to open the vknuckle upon upward movement of said lock,

said head being formed with a lock-set ledge on a side wall thereof, and said lock being adapted to swing laterally to lock-set position to rest on said ledge when raised to a predetermined extent.

7. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivoted thereto, a one-piece locking block vertically movable in said head and formed with a diagonally opening pocket in thelower portion thereof, said head being formed with a ledge in a side wall thereof adapted to be engaged by a lower corner of said block to hold said block in lock-set position, and a lock lifter operating in an aperture in the lower wall of said head and formed with an enlarged end curved transversely of the head, normally received in said pocket, allowing transverse angling of the block with respect thereto and adapted for engagement and disengagement with respect to said block when disposed in an abnormal angular relationship with respect thereto.

8. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivoted thereto, a one-piece locking block vertically movable in said head provided with a diagonally opening pocket in the lower portion thereof, a lock lifter operating in an aperture in the lower wall of said head and formed with an enlarged end normally interlocking in the pocket in said block and diagonally insertable and removable, whereby said block is adapted for engagement and disengagement with respect to the lifter by relative tilting to an abnormal angle, said block being adapted to rotate transversely about said enlarged end when raised a predetermined distance, a side wall of said head being formed with a ledge engaged by said block when raised and rotated to assume a lock-set position.

9. In combination, a coupler head, a lock vertically movable in said head and provided with a downwardly and rearwardly opening pocket in the lower portion thereof, a lock lifter normally movable in a. transverse generally vertical plane operating in an aperture in said head and formed with an enlarged upper end normally interlocking in said pocket and only diagonally insertable and removable whereby connection and disconnection of the lifter is only possible upon relative tilting of the connected members to an abnormal angle, a side wall of said head lying adjacent to said block having a ledge, and a portion above said ledge cut out whereby when the lock lifter raises said block a corner of said block engages said ledge to hold said block in lock-set position.

10. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivoted thereto, a vertically movable locking block, a knuckle opener formed with an end adjacent said block fitting in a forwardly and sidewardly opening notch and an arm tting in a corresponding aperture extending rearwardly from said notch in said locking block for pivotally mounting said opener thereon, and a depending portion at the other end of said opener for engaging said knuckle and moving it to open position, said head being formed with a lock-set ledge on an outer side wall thereof above the bottom of said head, and said lock being adapted to swing to rest on said ledge in lock-set position, when raised a predetermined distance.

11. In combination, a coupler head, a pivoted knuckle, a vertically movable locking block, a

knuckle opener formed with the end adjacent the block fitting in a forwardly and sidewardly opening notch and an integral arm tting in a corresponding aperture extending rearwardly from said notch in the locking block for pivotally mounting said opener thereon, and a depending portion at the other end of said opener for engaging said knuckle and moving it to open position. Y n

12. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivoted thereto, a unitary locking block vertically movable in said head, a knuckle opener provided with an integral rearward extension tting in Yan aperture in said block for pivotally mounting the same, said'aperture extending rearwardly from a forwardly and sidewardly opening notch receiving the adjacent end 'of the opener, said knuckle opener being provided with `a portion engaged. by a projection on a Wall of the head upon upward movement of the blockrto cause said opener to operate for moving the knuckle to open position.

13. In combination, a coupler head, a knuckle pivoted thereto, a one-piece locking block vertically movable in said head provided with a diagonally opening pocket in the lower portion thereof and normally supported in the lower portion vof said head, a lock lifter operating in an aperture in the lower wall of said head and formed with'an enlarged end normally interlocking in the pocket in said lock-ing block and diagonally insertable and removable, Vwhereby said block is adapted for engagement and disengagement with respect to the lifter by relative tilting to an abnormal angle. Y e

14. In combination, a coupler head, knuckle, a vertically movable lock, said lock being formed with a forwardly and sidewardly opening notch and an aperture extending rearwardly from said notch, and a knuckle opener with a portion fitting in said notch and an integral trunnion extending rearwardly into said aperture for pivotally mounting the opener on said lock.

15. In combination, a coupler head, a lock vertically movable in said head and provided with a downwardly and rearwardly opening pocket in the lower portion thereof, a lock lifter normally 20 and removable, whereby,V connection and discon- 2.5

' nection of the lifter is only possible upon relative tilting of the connected members toan abnormal angle.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS. 

